There is a great challenge to employ an electrocatalyst that has high efficiency, is earth-abundant, and is a non-noble metal for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we reported a low-cost and highly efficient OER catalyst, Fe-doped NiCoP nanosheet arrays in situ grown on nickel foam (NiCoFeP/NF), which was synthesized via a simple and mild hydrothermal and phosphorization method. In 1 M KOH solution, the as-prepared NiCoFeP/NF produces a larger current density of 200 mA·cm–2 at a low overpotential of 271 mV and exhibits a low Tafel slope of 45 mV·dec–1, which is superior to commercial RuO2. The outstanding OER performance of the as-prepared NiCoFeP/NF can be attributed to the synergetic effects among Fe, Ni, and Co elements, unique nanosheet arrays structure, and the great intrinsic electrocatalytic activity. On the basis of the above factors, the as-prepared NiCoFeP/NF may work as a promising OER electrocatalyst.

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The microscopic mechanism of potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ) modification and the properties of ramie fiber/polypropylene (RF/PP) composites were investigated with experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at the molecular and atomic levels. The MD simulations suggested that the microscopic modification mechanism for the improved properties of the KMnO 4 modified RF/PP composites were contributed to the decrease of the free volume of cellulose molecular and increase of the weak Van der Waals force at the interface of the modified fiber and PP matrix. The decrease of the free volume of cellulose molecular can reduce the water absorption of natural fiber. Conversely, the increase in the weak Van der Waals force at interface can improve the interface adhesion strength of the composites and further result in the improvement of the compatibility of RF/PP composites. Additionally, the experimental work showed that KMnO 4 treatment led to a higher surface roughness of the modified fiber besides the oxidization effect of oxidizing hydroxyl groups within cellulose molecular to be aldehyde and carboxyl groups. This can achieve a better bond strength at interface of fiber and polymer matrix, and finally resulted in the good mechanical properties of the KMnO 4 modified RF/PP composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000-000,

The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, interface adhesion and microstructures of the amino silicone oil emulsion (ASO) modified short ramie fiber reinforced polypropylene composites (RFPCs) with different fiber fractions were investigated. The RFPCs were made through a combined process of extrusion and injection molding. Mechanical property tests of the RFPCs revealed enhancements in tensile and flexural strengths with increase of the fiber fraction due to the high stiffness of the fiber filler and a better interfacial bonding from ASO treatment. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results indicated that fiber incorporation plays an important role in DMA parameters (storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping ratio) at Tg by forming an improved interfacial adhesion and providing more effective stress transfer rate and energy dissipation between matrix and fiber. The phase behavior analysis suggests all the RFPCs are a kind of heterogeneity system based on the Cole-Cole plot analysis.